Duterte: China visit ‘turning point’ in 2 countries’ histories

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President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said his upcoming visit to Brunei and China would seek to enhance his country’s ties with the two nations over the areas of trade and investments, peace and security.

In his speech at the Davao International Airport before departing for Brunei, Duterte said his foreign state visit would focus on intensifying two-way trade and investments and developing our halal sector and micro, small and medium enterprises, and asking support for the government’s antinarcotics campaign.

READ: Duterte in Brunei on Sunday for first foreign state visit

“Along with the growth and development, I shall seek to further strengthen joint resolve at securing just and lasting peace in Mindanao. Brunei has always been a steadfast partner for peace. As the Philippines enters an important phase in our peace talks, Brunei will continue to play an important role,” Duterte said.

“In the area of defense and security cooperation, I will seek collaborative undertakings in the sharing and expertise on maritime security as well as capacity building. I will seek closer collaboration and mutual support in our campaign against illegal drugs and importance towards attaining our common goal of realizing an ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) drug-free community,” he added.

Aside from his meeting with his majesty, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Duterte was also set to meet the Filipino community in Brunei “to thank them for their contributions to our economic development and to apprise them of developments here at home.”

Duterte will then proceed to China to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and National People’s Congress chairman Zhang Dejiang.

READ: Hard Talk: China Visit

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Duterte said the first state visit of a Philippine President to Beijing since 2011 was a “key turning point in both our histories,” and he was looking forward to exchanging ideas on how to improve bilateral relations and emerging areas of partnership and cooperation.

“I will look forward to renewing the ties of friendship between the Philippines and China and to reaffirm the commitment to work closer to achieve shared goals for our countries and peoples. As we mark this year of the 41st anniversary of the establishment of the relations between China and the Philippines, we will look at the sum total of our relationships. We shall seek ways to strengthen cooperation, particularly to intensify two-way trade and investments,” he said.

“Upon my return, I will report on the gains that Philippines achieved during the visits. In both these state visits, we will continue to espouse cooperation and collaboration with friendly nations on the basis of sovereign equality, non-interference and mutual respect. In all my dealings, I will remain true to the constitutional mandate reposed on me to pursue an independent foreign policy and to uphold the national interest of the Philippines,” the President added.

In a series of anti-West sentiments invoking a “recalibrated” foreign policy, Duterte has repeatedly said that he would break away from the Philippines’ longtime ally the United States and forge alliances with China and Russia. RAM/rga